João Magueijo sees pollen dance under einstein's disco ball

I wish I could be less cynical about the current fad of marrying science and art, but invariably the former provides the money, the latter the agenda, full stop. And I have seen numerous examples of this most unintellectual transaction. In the case of Constant Speed , however, the outcome is exhilarating. If it takes scientists playing sugar daddy to finance this level of quality, so be it.

Constant Speed , choreographed by Mark Baldwin and performed by the Rambert Dance Company, is a work commissioned by the Institute of Physics to celebrate Einstein Year. In 1905, the 26-year-old published four papers that revolutionised physics. Two contained the theory of relativity: the idea that space and time are "relative" and light travels at a "constant speed". Another proved for the first time that atoms do exist, betraying their presence in the random movements of the pollen grains that they collide with (so-called Brownian motion). As if this weren't enough, Dr E also wrote a paper on the electric currents that flow through some metals when light is shone on them; unassumingly jump-starting the crazy field of quantum theory, with its creepy conception of fuzzy reality. Not a bad year by any standards. Accordingly, one century on we feel compelled to celebrate this miracle of inspiration.

Constant Speed builds on Einstein's quote: "Human beings, vegetables or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player." In the view of its creators, the colours of the lighting design and costumes emulate light's different frequencies. The random motions of the dancers mimic those of pollen grains subject to Brownian motion, "...the dancers as molecules in space, moving around the stage randomly, as if being jostled by unseen forces". So what does all this have to do with Einstein's theories?

Nothing, to be fair. The connections are at best tangential, frequently just a game of words or even misunderstandings. I was left wondering if the scientific adviser, the eminent Ray Rivers, had convinced the company that Einstein invented the disco ball.

But so what? It would be pretty stupid to attempt a literal translation of scientific ideas into art. And what matters is that the final result is so beautiful and humorous. My only quibble is with the choice of music by the little known (for good reason) composer Franz Lehar. An eccentric choice - if one wants to be charitable - total crap otherwise. But overall this is an excellent production, wholly recommended. Forget the science if it puts you off, recall it if it encourages you to go to see it. Either way, if you get the chance, just see it.

It has become unfashionable to accept the truth about science and art: that their languages are not only different but in fact incompatible. It is entirely different to use mathematics or one's body to communicate, and the interaction between science and art is often at cross-purposes. But perhaps the biggest problem is that both science and art have become so abstract and specialised that crossing the boundaries in a meaningful way has become impossible. It is not surprising that we have not had a Leonardo da Vinci in centuries. And yet sometimes it's so much fun to speak at cross-purposes or even in parallel monologues.

Joio Magueijo is reader in theoretical physics, Imperial College London, and author of Faster than the Speed of Light , published by Arrow, price £8.99.